I don't wish for a bashing so I will make my comments brief. For years I have been using consumer hand-held steaming devices to pre and post clean LPs. My ideas have been posted in several audio mags and one euro design group visted with me last year after my steaming method trashed a machine retailing for $$$$+. Mr. Walker & I had a brief conversation so he is awaire of the steaming method. Personally, I have found that all cleaning solutions I tested leave a "sonic fingerprint" that no one would know existed UNLESS you steam-clean( pre & post) to the use of cleaning solutions /or machines. I am certian that Mr. Walker has done all possible to putout a superior product. I suggest that unless one has not tried steaming as outlined in Michael Fremers article in Stereophile 2/06 you shall never know what is missing. I interject this suggestion because you-all are hard-core not for a bash'in. So take or leave it. Happy Listening
Walker Audio Prelude LP Cleaning Solution
I did not want to post this as a full review as this is my initial first impression using the newly released Walker Audio Prelude LP Cleaning Solutions.
Prelude is a 3-step process consisting of enzymes, premixed cleaning solution and an ultra pure water rinse (made via a 7 stage filtration process). I comes nicely packaged with the following: a 64 ounce container of ultra pure water, a 16 ounce squeeze bottle of premixed cleaning solution, a second bottle of water in a 16 ounce squeeze bottle, an empty 4 ounce squeeze bottle, and a jar of enzyme powder, along with a small scoop and a slightly larger scoop.
Lloyd’s research indicates that enzymes in a solution only have a life cycle of 8-10 hours before they die off. By keeping the enzymes in a powder form, and only mixing enough to be used during a cleaning session ensures they stay active.
If you plan on cleaning 5-6 or so LP sides at a time (which is what I have been doing), use the small scoop in the enzyme powder. Place the powder in the empty 4-ounce bottle. Add some of the water from the 16-ounce container up to the “A” mark on the 4-ounce bottle and shake to mix. Apply to the pads of a cleaning brush and lightly scrub the LP as it spins on your RCM. Let it sit for 15-30 seconds and vacuum off.
Using a second brush, apply the premixed cleaning solution to the pad and apply to the LP as above. Let sit for a few seconds and vacuum off. Do not let either solution dry on the LP.
Using a third brush, use the ultra pure water as a final rinse and vacuum off.
I have had lots of experience with different LP cleaning products, including Disc Doctor, Audio Intelligent, and L’Art du Son. The AI solutions are similar to Prelude in that they also use the enzyme solution as a pre-treat prior to cleaning. The AI enzyme come premixed, unlike the Prelude. The enzyme powder formula of Prelude ensures that the enzymes stay viable until they are needed. I really like the AI solutions when I used them, and missed them when Paul sold the business.
That said, The Walker Audio Prelude is the best of the AI, kicked up several notches. Lloyd Walker has hit another one out of the ballpark. After cleaning several LPs that I thought I knew backward and forward, I can report the following: surfaces are dead silent, with no residue what so ever from any of the three steps. There is no static build up, and even well played LPs have that shiny right out of the sleeve look to them.
Focus, detail and transparency are the first three words that come to mind when describing what I am hearing. The inner detail on familiar LPs lets me hear for the first time things that have been there but never fleshed out of the grooves the way it is after using Prelude. At least, that's what MY ears are telling me. The music just leaps out from the utter blackness of the grooves. And, your records are REALLY clean. What else could you expect from one of the true masters of the analog arts? Who better to bring such a great product to the market for LP lovers than the man who builds what I consider to be the finest LP playback product in the world?
Give Lloyd a call and talk to him yourself about Walker Audio Prelude. I have no financial connection to Walker Audio other than the fact that I am a very happy customer and use many of their products in my system.
Kudos to Lloyd, Felicia, and Fred for creating another great Walker Audio product.
Prelude is a 3-step process consisting of enzymes, premixed cleaning solution and an ultra pure water rinse (made via a 7 stage filtration process). I comes nicely packaged with the following: a 64 ounce container of ultra pure water, a 16 ounce squeeze bottle of premixed cleaning solution, a second bottle of water in a 16 ounce squeeze bottle, an empty 4 ounce squeeze bottle, and a jar of enzyme powder, along with a small scoop and a slightly larger scoop.
Lloyd’s research indicates that enzymes in a solution only have a life cycle of 8-10 hours before they die off. By keeping the enzymes in a powder form, and only mixing enough to be used during a cleaning session ensures they stay active.
If you plan on cleaning 5-6 or so LP sides at a time (which is what I have been doing), use the small scoop in the enzyme powder. Place the powder in the empty 4-ounce bottle. Add some of the water from the 16-ounce container up to the “A” mark on the 4-ounce bottle and shake to mix. Apply to the pads of a cleaning brush and lightly scrub the LP as it spins on your RCM. Let it sit for 15-30 seconds and vacuum off.
Using a second brush, apply the premixed cleaning solution to the pad and apply to the LP as above. Let sit for a few seconds and vacuum off. Do not let either solution dry on the LP.
Using a third brush, use the ultra pure water as a final rinse and vacuum off.
I have had lots of experience with different LP cleaning products, including Disc Doctor, Audio Intelligent, and L’Art du Son. The AI solutions are similar to Prelude in that they also use the enzyme solution as a pre-treat prior to cleaning. The AI enzyme come premixed, unlike the Prelude. The enzyme powder formula of Prelude ensures that the enzymes stay viable until they are needed. I really like the AI solutions when I used them, and missed them when Paul sold the business.
That said, The Walker Audio Prelude is the best of the AI, kicked up several notches. Lloyd Walker has hit another one out of the ballpark. After cleaning several LPs that I thought I knew backward and forward, I can report the following: surfaces are dead silent, with no residue what so ever from any of the three steps. There is no static build up, and even well played LPs have that shiny right out of the sleeve look to them.
Focus, detail and transparency are the first three words that come to mind when describing what I am hearing. The inner detail on familiar LPs lets me hear for the first time things that have been there but never fleshed out of the grooves the way it is after using Prelude. At least, that's what MY ears are telling me. The music just leaps out from the utter blackness of the grooves. And, your records are REALLY clean. What else could you expect from one of the true masters of the analog arts? Who better to bring such a great product to the market for LP lovers than the man who builds what I consider to be the finest LP playback product in the world?
Give Lloyd a call and talk to him yourself about Walker Audio Prelude. I have no financial connection to Walker Audio other than the fact that I am a very happy customer and use many of their products in my system.
Kudos to Lloyd, Felicia, and Fred for creating another great Walker Audio product.
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- 86 posts total
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Slipknot: The process is simple. I use a a hand held steamer w/o any attachments. The steaming unit is filled with water approved for filling a car-battery --super clean and reasonable @ PEP Boys Auto. I cover the label ,cover the hand holding the lp with a glove and lightly steam the LP groves before using ANY record cleaning machine (of your choice)and record cleaning solution to gently scrub the groves followed by a second vaccuming & a post steaming. The post steaming removes any potental "sonic fingerprint" that were deposited by the cleaning solution. Thereafter, I use a couple of custom built machines to dry an de-static the LPs before playing. I find the combination of steaming/record cleaning solvents and machines leaves a record as utterly free of gunk as possible. Forget my custom stuff -- a lint free cloth or air drying works ALMOST as well. A couple of NASA folks did a series of unpublished experiments on the process and found nothing cleaned LPs better. I have developed a couple of other machines that can remove the .005% of gunk nothing elese can remove. But those are for me . I own quite alot of LPs. And with exception of those with manufacturing noise or misuse I can make 99.5% listenable. Enjoy the music. |
CREM1, Hi, your technique and system is the second inovation I have read about on these pages. The other, the integration of a ultrasonic bath with a verticle RCM vacum above the tank is said to be available on the street retail in Taiwan. Have you seen it ? ultraclean Not wanting to take this to an extreme (oops too late) do you think combining both your deep steam treatment with the ultra sonic bath and verticle bath would or could yeild a more pristine result? |
- 86 posts total